1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
It is November 1978 in San Francisco, California. The play begins shortly after the deaths of Mayor George Mascone and the first homosexual to hold high power in the city, Supervisor Harvey Milk. Dianne Feinstein has just announced the murders to the press and has stated that Dan White is the suspect. The play then follows the court case of the murders. Douglas Schmidt is defending Dan White and Thomas Norman is the prosecuting attorney. There are also witnesses, jurors, psychologists, and others relating to the case.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
Though the intrusion of this play is not self evident, I believe that the intrusion took place when Schmidt and Norman chose their jury. Schmidt made sure not to choose any homosexuals, Blacks, or Asians. I believe choosing this jurors prompted the final verdict of Dan White receiving the penalty of voluntary manslaughter, rather than a harsher sentence. The jury was said to be Dan White's "peers", which made them more sympathetic to White's case. After choosing the jury the court case can commence.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
Today is the day, or rather days, where Dan White will be tried in court for murdering Mayor Mascone and Harvey Milk. This is an important trial for the city of San Fransisco because of what is means to the LGBTQ community. Harvey Milk was a beacon of hope and acceptance to the LGBTQ citizens of San Fransisco and they rook his murder as a hit to their freedom. They felt as if their voice has been brutally snatched by Dan White and they wanted justice. The verdict of voluntary manslaughter came to a shock to many because everyone believed that it was murder in cold blood. People believed that White had planned out what he was going to do, not that it was a crime in passion. The verdict could be why the play is named Execution of Justice. Instead of White, the justice of the murders of Mascone and Milk were executed.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will the jury find Dan White guilty or innocent of Mayor Mascone and Harvey Milk's murders? If found guilty, what sentence will he receive?
5. Use the two lawyers to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
Norman and Schmidt face each other off as they are representing two opposing sides of the trial. They want to accomplish differing goals. Dan White also opposes the city of San Francisco. Most citizens want to see him get charged for murder while he is trying to be free. White went against the law when he murdered Mascone and Milk, and Schmidt tries to persuade the jury that Dan committed the murders in heat of the moment. Nonetheless, he cannot control what the jury will eventually decide based on their own thoughts on the case.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Execution of Justice.
One of the theatrical moments was when the verdict is revealed. It was shown to be a big moment by White gasping, his wife Mary Ann sobbing, and Norman in total distress. There is also an explosion, which further contributes to the dramatics of the situation. Many thought that White would get charged for two murders, but he did not.
1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
It is November 1978 in San Francisco, California. The play begins shortly after the deaths of Mayor George Mascone and the first homosexual to hold high power in the city, Supervisor Harvey Milk. Dianne Feinstein has just announced the murders to the press and has stated that Dan White is the suspect. The play then follows the court case of the murders. Douglas Schmidt is defending Dan White and Thomas Norman is the prosecuting attorney. There are also witnesses, jurors, psychologists, and others relating to the case.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
Though the intrusion of this play is not self evident, I believe that the intrusion took place when Schmidt and Norman chose their jury. Schmidt made sure not to choose any homosexuals, Blacks, or Asians. I believe choosing this jurors prompted the final verdict of Dan White receiving the penalty of voluntary manslaughter, rather than a harsher sentence. The jury was said to be Dan White's "peers", which made them more sympathetic to White's case. After choosing the jury the court case can commence.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
Today is the day, or rather days, where Dan White will be tried in court for murdering Mayor Mascone and Harvey Milk. This is an important trial for the city of San Fransisco because of what is means to the LGBTQ community. Harvey Milk was a beacon of hope and acceptance to the LGBTQ citizens of San Fransisco and they rook his murder as a hit to their freedom. They felt as if their voice has been brutally snatched by Dan White and they wanted justice. The verdict of voluntary manslaughter came to a shock to many because everyone believed that it was murder in cold blood. People believed that White had planned out what he was going to do, not that it was a crime in passion. The verdict could be why the play is named Execution of Justice. Instead of White, the justice of the murders of Mascone and Milk were executed.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will the jury find Dan White guilty or innocent of Mayor Mascone and Harvey Milk's murders? If found guilty, what sentence will he receive?
5. Use the two lawyers to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
Norman and Schmidt face each other off as they are representing two opposing sides of the trial. They want to accomplish differing goals. Dan White also opposes the city of San Francisco. Most citizens want to see him get charged for murder while he is trying to be free. White went against the law when he murdered Mascone and Milk, and Schmidt tries to persuade the jury that Dan committed the murders in heat of the moment. Nonetheless, he cannot control what the jury will eventually decide based on their own thoughts on the case.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Execution of Justice.
One of the theatrical moments was when the verdict is revealed. It was shown to be a big moment by White gasping, his wife Mary Ann sobbing, and Norman in total distress. There is also an explosion, which further contributes to the dramatics of the situation. Many thought that White would get charged for two murders, but he did not.